Tech Mahindra to invest in 22 platforms, bets big on digital technologies like automation and internet-of-things

Over the last few months, the company has said it would invest in startups, seek external funding for internal units and would partner with technology providers.Jochelle Mendonca | ET Bureau | January 15, 2016, 07:50 IST

Over the last few months, the company has said it would invest in startups, seek external funding for some internal units and would partner with technology providers to expand its business.

"Tech Mahindra will go from an IT and engineering services company to become a digital technologies company. Our future bets are on automation, the internet-of-things and artificial intelligence," TechM CEO CP Gurnani told ET.

Jagdish Mitra, head of strategy and marketing, also said the company was betting on startups and new business models. "We are running as digital gives us new opportunities.

We no longer only need to be a tech company but also work with people who can run businesses on our end. So, the whole direction we have taken with initiatives such as funding and working with startups and participating in the startup ecosystem in India," Mitra said. He added that the company was also building technologies in-house, such as platforms that it intends to scale.

"We run about 22 odd platforms in different size and shapes. We are looking at taking processes out and put a platform in. All of these are in different stages of incubation. We are looking to scale those businesses up," he said. Mitra said about 14 of the platforms had clients, while others were still in a pilot phase.

Earlier this week, TechM held its Mission Innovation Festival in Hyderabad, where it showcased platforms like Prism, a predictive analytics platform, Tactix, an artificial intelligence and machine learning platform, and Uno, a robotics process automation platform.

Indian IT companies are increasingly betting on platforms to power growth. Last year, TCS launched its automation platform Ignio, while Infosys has a business unit EdgeVerve that focuses on platforms and products. TechM, which also has consumer-facing platforms such as Saral Rozgar and MoboMoney, plans to initially grow them in India.

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